What Has Christmas Come Too?

           Christmas is an enchanting time for those who are infatuated with the season. I am not a fan of Christmas and this is shocking to most people. After the age of five, I never really got the appeal. Five happens to be the age when I found out Santa was really my parents. (Thanks to a rather unfortunate Christmas morning tape that showed my parent putting the presents under the tree.) Yes, I still get presents even though my family knows my dislike for this holiday. My mother refuses to buy me anything for two months before this dreaded day, so I, of course, have to make a Christmas list. But with my weekly checkup on the news, I discovered a video that was exposing imported good that were counterfeit. Now, my first reaction was to laugh, no offense to all those Christmas lovers. Even though I'm a Grinch, I still give gifts to loved ones and friends, so this concerning to the state of the gifts I was giving.

            As the video progressed, it showed top brands being counterfeited and even some common items being turned into weapons. Finding gift items turned into weapons is a bit frightening. I may not like Christmas, but I still give gifts and having the fear of the gift that I give someone not be what it is actually is or even a weapon can ruin anyone’s day. I understand people wanting to get the best possible gift for someone at the best price. But wouldn't you want the gifts to be real? The Christmas Season brings a whole set of stressors; now enter the fake Christmas gifts, which adds to the list.

            Why has Christmas become about presents? Yes, every little kid looks for Christmas because of presents but even adults have become obsessed with presents. Christmas originally was to celebrate the birth of Christ. But has become this crazy holiday about trees, lights, and a fictional character that delivers presents in one night. Is it just because we live in a consumer driven society that Christmas has become this way? Instead of focusing on the materialistic aspect of Christmas and who can get the best gifts, maybe we should think about what it really is, the birth of Christ. Then perhaps, our world would be a safer and better place during this Season.